Unitary container having a hinged panel with a tray configuration

ABSTRACT

This invention pertains to a unitary container preferably generally rectangular in configuration. This container has one side or panel portion thereof hinged to the remainder of the container. This side or panel portion of the container is configured so that in its open condition there is provided a rimmed tray which may be used as a paint storage tray such as used with rollers and the like. The rim portion of the traytype side portion is adapted to fit within the rectangular remaining portion of the container. This remaining portion of the container provides the storage area. There is provided also an engaging tongue and groove portion which provides the seal of the container after initial use. The container in its initial condition has outwardly extending flange portions which are sealed to each other to provide a hermetic and fluid-tight seal of the container for storage, shipping and to prevent unwanted tempering.

Heisler 51 Aug. 13,1974

[ UNITARY CONTAINER HAVING A HINGED PANEL WITH A TRAY CONFIGURATION [76]Inventor: Raymond A. Heisler, 657 Dakota- Trl., Franklin Lakes, NJ.07417 [22] Filed: Mar. 9, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 339,591

[52] US. Cl 15/257.06, 206/216, 220/315, 220/60 R [51] Int. Cl B65d43/10, B65d 43/16 [58] Field of Search 206/1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 216, 206/223;220/4 A, 31 S, 60 R, 90; l5/257.05, 257.06

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 891,085 6/1908 Leahy 220/4 B2,940,200 6/1960 Endlich. 41/4 3,149,747 9/1964 Burgess 220/60 R3,278,007 10/1966 Weber 206/l.8 3,339,781 9/1967 Schurman et al 220/93,602,939 9/1971 Schoenholz l5/257.06 3,757,388 9/1973 Wolny...; 24/113MP Primary Examiner-William 1. Price Assistant Examiner-Bruce R.Bernstein Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ralph R. Roberts 571 ABSTRACT Thisinvention pertains to a unitary container preferably generallyrectangular in configuration. This container has one side or panelportion thereof hinged to the remainder of the container. This side orpanel portion of the container is configured so that in its opencondition there is provided a rimmed tray which may be used as a paintstorage tray such as used with rollers and the like. The rim portion ofthe traytype side portion is adapted to fit within the rectangularremaining portion of the container. This remaining portion of thecontainer provides the storage area. There is provided also an engagingtongue and groove portion which provides the seal of the container afterinitial use. The container in its initial condition has outwardlyextending flange portions which are sealed to each other to provide ahermetic and fluid-tight seal of the container for storage, shipping andto prevent unwanted tempering.

ll Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED N 1 31974 3, 828. 389

sum 10? 2 UNITARY CONTAINER HAVING A HINGED PANEL WITH A TRAYCONFIGURATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Withreference to the classification of art as established in the US. PatentOffice this invention pertains to the general Class entitled, MetallicReceptacles (Class 220) and the subclass thereunder of closures snapping(subclass 060).

2. Description of the Prior Art Paint retaining pails or containers, ofcourse, are well known and usually these containers are provided withremovable lids or covers. Paint trays are also well known, the trayscommonly used with paint retain a shallow portion or supply of paintwhich is spread out so as to permit a shallow entry into the paint by apaint roller, brush or pad-type applicator. These paint trays aregenerally made of stamped sheet metal although molded plastic trays are,of course, also well known. Combinations of a paint tray and containerhave been suggested, as for example, with a container and roller pan asseen in US Pat. No. 2,777,142 to L VERDE as issued on Jan. 15, 1957.This combination container and tray, like others that are known, has notprovided means for storing the initial quantity of paint until time foruse. Combination trays and containers, as shown and known, provide atray and container in which the balance of paint not in the tray isstored while the tray is being used.

In the present invention the one-piece combination container and tray isconstructed so that in its initially sealed state the container retainsthe desired quantity of paint which, for example, may be one gallon.After filling with paint the pan portion which provides one side of thecontainer is moved to close the container. Both the container portionand tray portion are provided on three mating sides with a flangeportion which when the container is closed may be sealed by heat or bysonic welding or solvent sealing to provide a hermetic and fluidtightseal of the container. At the time for use, the customer removes theouter rim portion from the container and with the container laidmore-orless flat it may be opened to expose the contents of thecontainer. With the tray portion laid flat and preferably supported by ahandle portion carried thereon, the inside of the cover portion providesa roller tray. When it is desired to discontinue use of the tray, thepaint in the tray cover is caused to be flowed into the container afterwhich the tray side is folded to being a tongue and groove seal meansinto a closed condition to seal the container and the contents thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to the unitaryconstruction of a molded container in which one-half of the containerprovides a retainer for the contents which is anticipated to be paintand the like.

A cover member which is attached to the container half by a molded hingeis shaped like a paint tray and has its inside surface provided withribs. An outer dam or rim and a support in the form of a pivoted handleis provided on this tray portion. Outer flanges formed on both portionsof the container areadapted for heat, ultra sonic or solvent sealing ofthe container halves to each other. A relief groove formed in bothflanges is adapted for and permits tearing away of this outer flangeseal at the time of use.

In addition to the above summary the following disclosure is detailed toinsure adequacy and aid in understanding of the invention. Thisdisclosure, however, is not intended to prejudice that purpose of apatent no matter how it may later be disguised by variations in form oradditions of further improvements. For this reason there has been chosena specific embodiment of the one-piece container having a hinged panelhaving a traylike configuration as adapted for use in storing and usingpaint and the like and showing a preferred means for constructing thecontainer as a one-piece molding.

This specific embodiment has been chosen for the purposes ofillustration and description as shown in the accompanying drawingswherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 represents an isometric view ofa one-piece container and tray with the tray side opened to retain ashallow supply of paint for a paint roller;

FIG. 2 represents an enlarged partly diagrammatic view of the near sideof the container and cover tray and showing in particular the hingedconstruction and the tongue and groove sealing means, a portion of thetray side being shown in section to illustrate the construction of thecover.

FIG. 3 represents a side or plan view of the container and showing thecover and a handle attached thereto for carrying the container and withthe handle adapted for supporting the tray when in an open condition;

FIG. 4 represents an end view of the assembled unit of FIG. 3, this viewtaken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 represents the container of FIG. 4 with the cover side swung intoa tray usable condition and with the handle providing the support forthe side providing the tray formed unit.

In the following description and in the claims various details will beidentified by specific names for convenience; these names, however, areintended to be generic in their application. Corresponding referencecharacters refer to like members throughout the several figures of thedrawings.

The drawings accompanying, and forming part of, this specificationdisclose certain details of construction for the purpose of explanationbut it should be understood that structural details may be modified invarious respects without departure from the concept and principles ofthe invention and that the invention may be incorporated in otherstructural forms than shown.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in particular toFIGS. l-5 and the combination container and roller tray there isdisclosed a unitary member which is a generally rectangular unit. Thisunit includes a retainer half 10 which is of a determined depth. Thisretainer portion has three sides of its open top provided with an outerflange 12. This rim portion extends outwardly from the three unattachedsides of the retaining half 10. Formed in the rim portion 12 andextending upwardly therefrom is tongue portion 14. Exterior of thistongue portion is a groove 16 which provides a weakened continuous lineportion in rim l2.

This relief 16 is designed so that flange 12 is attached by a very thinportion which permits tearing removal of the extending flange portionoutwardly of the groove 16. A cover or side portion providing the traymember of the combination is identified as 20 and is attached to theretainer half portion by means of a hinge portion 22. This tray portionside includes a flat panel 24 in which a plurality of ribs 26 are formedon the inside surface. These ribs extend from an upstanding rim portion28 which provides the dam or retainer for the tray when the cover isused as the paint retaining tray. Outwardly of this rim 28 is a flangeportion 30 which as seen in enlarged view in FIG. 2 is joined to flangeportion 12 as a thin hinge. In this flange portion 30 is formed a grooveportion 32 which is disposed to snugly engage the tongue portion 14 whenthe tray side is in a closed condition.

Exterior of groove 32 is a relief groove 34 which is spaced to coincidewith relief groove 16 when the container and cover are closed. Alsopreferably attached to the tray portion 20 is a handle 40 which ispivotally retained by means of socket or ear portions 42 to the trayportion 20. By means of detents formed in these ear portions and thehandle 40, the handle may be retained in one of two or more positions.

ASSEMBLY AND OPERATION It is to be noted in the construction of thiscombined container and tray that the combination may be made as a singlemolded unit. Such a combination not only provides an inexpensivecombined container and tray but also with the integral hinge provides aneasy way to return the paint in the tray to the container. The handle 40and ear portions 42 may be made either as a separate unit with thehandle inserted as a secondary operation or the handle may be made as anattached moldedin-place member with the handle hingedly attached to thecover. A detent also molded in the ear portions may provide means forthe handle to be retained in the condition of FIG. 5. It is alsocontemplated that a detent portion may be molded in the cover of thecontainer.

In the molding of the container and cover in the open condition of FIG.1, the flange portion 28 is made with an extending tab portion 50 whichextends forwardly of the cover panel 24 and joins the container half 10just inside of tongue 14 so that as the tray cover is swung intoretaining condition this portion 50 tucks inwardly to insure that paintrunning down from the tray portion 24 is fed only into and returned onlyinto the container portion 10. To initially fill the tray 20 thecontainer is arranged as in FIG. 1 and then half 10 is tilted toward thetray so that a determined amount of paint is flowed into the tray. Afteruse of the tray cover portion 20 is completed, the cover is lifted andfolded toward and to the container portion 10 and with the tab portion50 tucked inwardly the rim portion 28 slides within the confines of thecontainer 10. The tongue 14 is caused to enter into the groove 32 to actas an initial seal for the paint in the container.

When initially filling the container the portion 10 is filled, the cover20 is brought to the portion 10 and the tongue 14 is moved into groove32 after which the extending ear portions 12 and are caused to be sealedtogether by ultra sonic sealing, heat sealing or solvent sealing. Withthe container thus hermetically sealed until time for use, the containermay be shipped,

stored, etc. At the time for use the weakened portions 16 and 34 areutilized and after an initial cut into this weakened area has been madeas with a knife at the hinge portion area these extending and sealingrim portions 12 and 30 are removed from the container. At this point theseal and the retaining of the cover 20 to the container half 10 is onlyby means of the tongue and groove 14 and 32. One corner of the flangeportion containing the tongue and groove is then pried open and then thecover is released so as to be tilted back to its open condition as inFIG. I at which time the handle portion 40 is swung into its supportingcondition of FIG. 5. The container 10 and the handle 40 may then beplaced upon a relatively flat surface whereupon a paint roller 60 or abrush or the like may be used by the operator to dip into the paint inthe tray in a conventional and normal manner.

Although the container is shown as rectangular in configuration thatdoes not mean that other shapes such as square, hexagonal and the likemay not be used. It is only necessary that a hinge attachment beprovided to retain the cover to the container half. The tongue andgroove retaining means for securing the cover after the pull tab isremoved is a preferred arrangement. However, it is also contemplatedthat other type securing means may be used such as a snap-on type ofrim.

The plastic for the combination container may be one of several incommon use for storing paints and the like. Whatever the plasticcomposition used, it is contemplated that it will be moldable and atleast semirigid and substantially impervious to the material which isstored therein. Since most paint rollers are less than nine inches inlength the tray width may be just a little more than the length of theroller or brush. The ribs on the inner or under side of the cover member20 may be eliminated and buttons, a grain or pebble surface effect orany other desired surface susceptible to molding may be provided to givethe roller a gripping and spacing surface.

The unitary construction of the above-described container with thehinged tray secured to the container not only utilizes the containerbody as a paint retaining means but also the tray portion attached tothe container by an integral hinge and side retainers on the traycontain the paint in a manner not found in other known combinations. Forexample, a metallic paint container as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,139,646to VERNON as issued on July 7, 1964 has a combined tray and containerbut the tray member does not provide a reclosing means for the containerwhen some or most of the paint remains and the container needs to bereclosed. In another metallic container and tray combination as depictedin U.S. Pat. No. 3,602,939 to SCHOENI-IOLZ and issued on Sept. 7, 1971the tray which is depicted as a unitary extension of the container bodyis fixed within the container. The closure member is a separate memberwhich is mounted in a single groove formed around the open side of thecontainer. The constructional arrangement in these two patents leavesthe initially filled and sealed container subject to unwanted accidentalspillage when a mishandled container has a wall accidentally dentedinwardly. The above illustrated and described combined container andtray being of a plastic having a resilient recovery ability and having asealed flange is capable of sustaining quite a blow before a rupture ofthe container is developed.

For example, the sealed container as depicted is contemplated towithstand the four foot drop test standard usually made for filledcontainers. The tear strip used therewith insures that the filledcontainer has not been tampered with prior to purchase and use.

Terms such as left, right, up, down, bottom, top, front, backT, in, outand the like are applicable to the combination container and tray shownand described in conjunction with the drawings. These terms are merelyfor the purposes of description and do not necessarily apply to theposition in which this combination container with integrally attachedtray-like cover may be constructed or used.

While a particular configuration has been shown and described it is tobe understood that the container is not limited thereto sincemodifications may be made within the scope of the accompanying claimsand protection is sought to the broadest extent the prior art allows.

What is claimed is:

l. A unitary plastic container having an attached, tray-like cover, saidcombination container, when closed, being adapted to retain fluidmaterial such as paint and the like, the combination containerincluding: (a) a retainer portion of selected configuration and depthand having an open-top configuration with a rim portion therearoundexcept for a substantially straight edge portion; (b) a tray-like covermember having a substantially flat mid portion, said cover integrallyattached to the retainer at the substantially straight edge andproviding with this attachment a hinged connection which permits thecover to be swung around this hinge and from and to the containeropening, this traylike member having an upstanding rim portion extendingaround that edge portion not forming the hinge attachment, thisupstanding rim portion providing a fluid retaining means and beingconfigured so as to fit within the opening of the container when thetray-like member is swung to the container opening to close the opening,and (c) a cooperative fluid retaining means formed in that portion ofthe rim around the opening of the container and in the edge portion ofthe tray-like cover except that attached portion of the container andcover forming the hinge.

2. A unitary plastic container as in claim 1 in which the fluidretaining means is a tongue and groove arrangement with the tongueformed in one of the two members and the groove formed in the matingmember.

3. A unitary plastic container as in claim 2 in which an additional andcontinuous outwardly extending and attached flange portion is formed onthe rim portion of the container and also on the tray-like cover, saidattached flange portion when the cover is folded to lie on the containerbeing brought into a nearly contiguous relationship permitting ahermetic seal of the container to be achieved by sealing these outwardlyextending flange portions to each other by means such as sonic welding,heat sealing, solvent sealing and the like.

4. A unitary plastic container as in claim 3 in which the attachedflange portion is outwardly of the tongue and groove fluid retainingmeans and adjacent the tongue and groove portions the flange portion hasa shallow groove formed to provide a weakening of the flange along aline thereof to permit this outwardly sealed portion to be pulled fromthe inner flange in the manner of a tear strip.

5. A unitary plastic container as in claim 4 in which the tongue iscarried in the rim portion of the container and the groove is carried onthe rim of the tray with the tongue being a press fit in the groove.

6. A unitary plastic container as in claim 1 in which the upstandingretaining rim portion around the traylike cover is substantially normalto the midportion of the tray member and extends into and is connectedto the rim portion of the container with that portion of thisconnectedretaining rim which lies in a plane substantially coincident with thehinge when the tray-like member is fully opened being formed so as tofold inwardly when the tray member portion is moved to a closed fluidretaining condition.

7. A unitary plastic container as in claim 1 in which there is a pivotedhandle attached to the outer surface of the tray-like cover and there isprovided means for retaining this handle at a selected position inrelation to said tray-like member so as to support the open traylikemember in a substantially horizontal position when the container isplaced on a horizontally disposed supporting surface.

8. A unitary plastic container as in claim 7 in which the handle isattached to the tray-like member as a molded hinge and the means forretaining the handle at a selected position is a projection molded onthe traylike member and contoured so as to provide a holding detent ofthe handle.

9. A unitary plastic container as in claim 7 in which the handle isinserted into socket stanchions molded on the tray-like member and themeans for retaining the handle at a selected position is a detent formedin at least one of said stanchions.

10. A unitary plastic container as in claim 1 in which the container andcover are generally rectangular in shape.

11. A unitary plastic container as in claim 1 in which the inner surfaceof the tray-like cover member is formed with rib-like shallowprojections extending generally at right angles to the hinge foldingline and for a substantial width of the flat portion of this tray-likemember.

1. A unitary plastic container having an attached, tray-like cover, saidcombination container, when closed, being adapted to retain fluidmaterial such as paint and the like, the combination containerincluding: (a) a retainer portion of selected configuration and depthand having an open-top configuration with a rim portion therearoundexcept for a substantially straight edge portion; (b) a tray-like covermember having a substantially flat mid portion, said cover integrallyattached to the retainer at the substantially straight edge andproviding with this attachment a hinged connection which permits thecover to be swung around this hinge and from and to the containeropening, this tray-like member having an upstanding rim portionextending around that edge portion not forming the hinge attachment,this upstanding rim portion providing a fluid retaining means and beingconfigured so as to fit within the opening of the container when thetray-like member is swung to the container opening to close the opening,and (c) a cooperative fluid retaining means formed in that portion ofthe rim around the opening of the container and in the edge portion ofthe tray-like cover except that attached portion of the container andcover forming the hinge.
 2. A unitary plastic container as in claim 1 inwhich the fluid retaining means is a tongue and groove arrangement withthe tongue formed in one of the two members and the groove formed in themating member.
 3. A unitary plastic container as in claim 2 in which anadditional and continuous outwardly extending and attached flangeportion is formed on the rim portion of the container and also on thetray-like cover, said attached flange portion when the cover is foldedto lie on the container being brought into a nearly contiguousrelationship permitting a hermetic seal of the container to be achievedby sealing these outwardly extending flange portions to each other bymeans such as sonic welding, heat sealing, solvent sealing and the like.4. A unitary plastic container as in claim 3 in which the attachedflange portion is outwardly of the tongue and groove fluid retainingmeans and adjacent the tongue and groove portions the flange portion hasa shallow groove formed to provide a weakening of the flange along aline thereof to permit this outwardly sealed portion to be pulled fromthe inner flange in the manner of a tear strip.
 5. A unitary plasticcontainer as in claim 4 in which the tongue is carried in the rimportion of the container and the groove is carried on the rim of thetray with the tongue being a press fit in the groove.
 6. A unitaryplastic container as in claim 1 in which the upstanding retaining rimportion around the tray-like cover is substantially normal to themidportion of the tray member and extends into and is connected to therim portion of the container with that portion of this connectedretaining rim which lies in a plane substantially coincident with thehinge when the tray-like member is fully opened being formed so as tofold inwardly when the tray member portion is moved to a closed fluidretaining condition.
 7. A unitary plastic container as in claim 1 inwhich there is a pivoted handle attached to the outer surface of thetray-like cover and there is provided means for retaining this handle ata selected position in relation to said tray-like member so as tosupport the open tray-like member in a substantially horizontal positionwhen the container is placed on a horizontally disposed supportingsurface.
 8. A unitary plastic container as in claim 7 in which thehandle is attached to the tray-like member as a molded hinge and themeans for retaining the handle at a selected position is a projectionmolded on the tray-like member and contoured so as to provide a holdingdetent of the handle.
 9. A unitary plaStic container as in claim 7 inwhich the handle is inserted into socket stanchions molded on thetray-like member and the means for retaining the handle at a selectedposition is a detent formed in at least one of said stanchions.
 10. Aunitary plastic container as in claim 1 in which the container and coverare generally rectangular in shape.
 11. A unitary plastic container asin claim 1 in which the inner surface of the tray-like cover member isformed with rib-like shallow projections extending generally at rightangles to the hinge folding line and for a substantial width of the flatportion of this tray-like member.